Wednesday 12th January and the draw is now complete.
The outstanding tie of the first round will be Eton against Charterhouse at Sandwich early on Thursday morning. Eton have the stronger recent record but Charterhouse are always tough to beat. The third quarter is by far the hardest of the four, containing the holders Loretto, as well as Eton, Charterhouse, Malvern and Ampleforth. On their form from last September, Loretto will fear no one but they may benefit here from the fact that the others will all have to play each other before the quarter-final.
The other quarters are fairly evenly balanced, with one or two stronger schools interspersed with potential giant-killers. A betting man might identify Tonbridge, Watson’s and Whitgift in the first quarter, Bradfield, Wellington and Merchiston in the second and Epsom, Sherborne and Rossall in the fourth. However real betting men don’t bet on the Hewitt. Whatever happens, it should be a great tournament!
The draw can be seen in detail here.
